On December 19^th, Sarasota County Archaeologist Steve Koski led a tour of the park for members of Warm Mineral Springs/Little Salt Spring Archaeological Society and Time Sifters Archaeology Society (both are chapters of the Florida Anthropology Society).

  

Excavations on January 4^th and 5^th 

The excavations expand the Sarasota County Historical Resources/NCPAL partnership to include Time Sifters Archaeology Society and the Florida Public Archaeology Network - West central Region.

  

 

The key question for any excavation: Why dig? For Phillippi Estate Park, the previous excavations (1988 and 1995) identified the three archaeological sites on the property, offered their time period, and provided a sampling of artifacts. But the materials do not give a clear sense of the peoples who lived by Phillippi Creek; the excavations will seek the extent of the sites and their delineation and recovered artifacts should offer more complete views of lifeways on Sarasota coast. As public archaeology, the small-scale excavations, are preformed in the sunshine (i.e., the public is invited to see the research in action) and with community support (thanks to Sarasota County, Time Sifters Archaeology Society, and the Florida Public Archaeology Network). The Research Design for the Excavations is on file with Sarasota County Historic Resources.

Sarasota County sent out a press release to encourage visitation, inviting the public

The response from the media and the public was overwhelming - 500 visitors over the two days. 

  

News reports included:

Laboratory Analysis of Artifacts - February 2016 Professor Baram’s Method and Theory in Archaeology

Artifacts and Ecofacts from the Excavations, ready for processing

Washing the artifacts

Waiting for the shells and shell tools to dry

   

Key step in the archaeological process is identifying, sorting, and inventorying the finds. Dr. George Luer and Steve Koski work through one bag, in preparation for demonstrating this step to the public on June 25th, 2016 at Phillippi Estate Park

March 16, 2016 Florida Public Archaeology Network hosts activities for children at Phillippi Estate Park, see http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20160316/NEWS/160319713/ 

The County created a video with Becky O'Sullivan of the Florida Public Archaeology Network and the Sarasota County Archaeologist, Steve Koski, explaining lithics 

FPAN and Sarasota County Archaeologist on Lithics

April 2016 – Friends of Phillippi Estate Park receives a Florida Humanities Council grant for heritage interpretation signage at the park

  

Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of FHCl or NEH

The FHC-funded program brings together scholars and community members to create four interpretive signs, to be placed near the archaeological sites at the park. The signs illuminate the archaeological history of Phillippi Estate Park, and inspire appreciate of the rich heritage beneath the feet of visitors. The signs will be unveiled at the November celebration.

To further understand the landscapes of Phillippi Estate Park, Professor Uzi Baram brought his Method and Theory in Archaeology students to the park for observations. One student, Oriana Reilly gave permission to post her video:

Oriana Reilly 2016 Landscapes of Phillippi Estate Park

 

The Heritage Interpretation project has increased local interest in Phillippi Creek. The Sarasota County Water Atlas has created a tour of the watershed, with multiple community organizations listed:  

http://www.sarasota.wateratlas.usf.edu/watershedtours/phillippicreek/

and Professor Baram has offered more public lectures on the many histories along Phillippi Creek

June 25. 2016 500 BCE at Phillippi - a free, public event at Phillippi Estate Park to celebrate the archaeological investigations and findings.

The June 25th event brought more than 125 community members to the Edson Keith Mansion to see the archaeologists identifying, classifying, and inventorying the finds from the January excavations. Thanks to the Florida Public Archaeology Network - West Central Region, the public handled artifact replicas and learned about the process of archaeology, Inside the mansion, they engaged the archaeologists working through the materials, explaining the significance of the shells, shell tools, and ceramic sherds.

 

  

News Reports: Laboratory work does not get the attention of excavations but The Observer offered great photographs and report: http://www.yourobserver.com/article/digging-history

Phillippi Estate Park planned for a celebration in November 2016; six students signed up for a tutorial - Heritage Interpretation Practicum at Phillippi Estate Park - that concluded with a performance at the park.

November 12, 2016 – Centennial Celebration of the Edson Keith Mansion with heritage interpretation signs for all the histories on the property

  

Chair of the Sarasota County Commission speaking at the dedication of the new interpretative signs

Uzi Baram's remarks at the dedication are titled: The Many Histories along Phillippi Estate

New College students as heritage interpreters for CHAMP

      

  

One of the Heritage Interpretation Signs

for the public to see, read, and reflect on the many histories and peoples who have lived by Phillippi Creek

The Observer covered the event: Centennial Event at Phillippi Estate Park

ABC 7 (WWSB) filmed a segment on the Manasota peoples, for its series A Place We Call Home, starring Steve Koski 

The Heritage Interpretation Signs for the Centennial Celebration 2016

How Old is the Midden?

March 15, 2017 Florida Public Archaeology Network presented a public workshop on RadioCarbon Dating. The day started with a tour of the property by Sarasota County Archaeologist Steve Koski, followed by the workshop in the Edson Keith Mansion. Dr. George Luer released the results of the radiocarbon dating of the Prodie Midden (see below for the Final Report that includes the findings). 

The radiocarbon dating workshop led to the last steps for the archaeological excavation project: describing the shells recovered from the Prodie Miidden. Sherry Svekis led Time Sifters Archaeology Society volunteers in weighing, measuring, and organizing the artifacts in April and May 2017.

      

  

And with the completion of the lab analysis, the final step is the Final Report

The Final Report on CHAMP at Phillippi Estate Park is available online at: 

The Many Histories Along Phillippi Creek

Central Goal of CHAMP: increase awareness of regional heritage as a means to create cosmopolitan canopies, places where histories and differences are encouraged and appreciated for the benefit all community members

With the Final Report submitted to Sarasota County Historical Resources and Phillippi Estate Park, the Heritage Interpretation Project is done. Except the team added one of component: On October 14, 2017 there is a dedication of an additional heritage Interpretation sign - for the Archaic Period. 

But, really, we are done with this program. The rest is up to the public to encourage continuing programming at the Park.

And they have: in April 2019 the Park launched a walking tour app